Top Tennessee Democrats, including Sen. Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, and Lowe Finney, D-Jackson, are urging Gov. Bill Haslam to call a special legislative session so lawmakers can allocate more money to the state’s higher ed institutions to avoid tuition hikes this fall. They say they hope Republicans take their request seriously instead of waiting until next [...]

Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey says he’s open to expanding the state-funded pre-K program for at-risk children, but maintains that he is unwilling to go along with a universal program in Tennessee. The state’s program has received mixed reviews as a state-commissioned study indicates the advances made by students level off by third grade, although [...]

This year’s election season looks good for Republicans, says Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey who says both changing demographics and GOP-drawn redistricting lines should ensure solid Republican wins this year. But some incumbents are in jeopard, he said, including House GOP Caucus Chairwoman Debra Maggart and Sen. Doug Overby. He made his comments to reporters June [...]

Any time government services are slow, the public pays an additional tax, Gov. Bill Haslam told the Tennessee Digital Government Summit in Nashville June 5, 2012, when explaining the intersection between technology and government services. Sometimes slow services is due to poor technology or employees not pulling their weight, he said. “When we don’t give [...]

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says he’s comfortable with the state’s dropping unemployment rate and the state’s increased collections in tax revenues show the economy is turning around. However, the state saw a boost in discouraged workers who have stopped looking for jobs. Haslam make the comments at Lipscomb University in Nashville May 29, 2012. For [...]

Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, insists the Legislature will pass a bill that would eliminate the tax on large gifts, although the governor did not add the measure into his latest budget proposal. The move will mean a loss of $15 million a year. But Harwell said she doesn’t yet know specifically how the [...]

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam defends his decision to develop a budget amendment in early April, weeks before the state funding board reviews the latest revenue estimates going into the next budget more. “All along then, through the next year, there are going to be things that change, and you can always say, ‘Let’s wait two [...]

Tennessee State Sen. Mae Beavers says she believes the new board the lawmakers want to set up to police judges will have more accountability, but says she’s not sure the new board will go far enough. She made the comments after the Senate voted 29-0 to dissolve the so-called “Court of Judiciary” and replace it [...]

Tennessee state Rep. Jeanne Richardson, D-Memphis, and medical marijuana activist Bernie Ellis tell reporters they think it’s getting more difficult for lawmakers to vote against making the drug available to people would could use it for medical purposes. Richardson is sponsoring the “Safe Access to Medical Cannabis Act,” and the two made the comments after [...]

Tennessee state Reps. Craig Fitzhuhg and Mike Turner say they are generally in favor of reducing or eliminating the tax million dollar inheritances, but say they’d rather spread out any tax break to more Tennesseans by cutting the tax on food. The two top Democrats issued their comments in Turner’s Capitol Hill office Thursday, March [...]